By Jennifer P. Rendon
The second most wanted person of Iloilo City was arrested evening of May 13, 2021 in Sara, Iloilo province.
28-year-old Joseph Paunon was collared at Sara Public Market where he worked in a bakery shop.
Paunon, a resident of Brgy. Ingore, LaPaz, Iloilo City was accused of sexually molesting his live-in partner’s 15-year-old niece.
The girl was 14 years old when the alleged multiple molestations happened.
Paunon was charged for 18 counts of sexual abuse in relation to Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).
A P180,000 bail was set for each case for his temporary liberty.
On top of that, Paunon was also accused of qualified theft under Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) docketed as Criminal Case No. 21-86367.
No bail was set for his temporary liberty.
Joint elements of the Iloilo City Police Office – City Intelligence Unit (ICPO-CIU), together with La Paz Police Station and Sara Police Station, arrested Paunon by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Regina Centenera Galang-Guarin of the Iloilo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 30 on May 7, 2021.
Major Jose Val Ladublan, La Paz police chief, said the complainant alleged that the suspect had been molesting her since August until Nov. 14, 2020.
But they reported the incident to police authorities on Nov 17, 2020.
The complainant decided to report the incident after her younger sibling caught Paunon molesting her.
The complainant used to live in her aunt’s house where the alleged molestation happened.
The suspect allegedly abused her when her aunt was not around.
Paunon is now detained at the lock-up cell of La Paz Police Station.
